RAIN or Shine claimed its first win in the PBA 49th Season Philippine Cup semifinals in convincing fashion, defeating a depleted TNT side, 107-86, on Sunday in Game 3 at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
Anton Asistio led the charge with 24 points as the Elasto Painters, who have lost 12 of their last 15 games against TNT the past three years, finally struck to cut down their deficit in the best-of-seven semifinal series to 2-1.
READ Guiao reacts to spate of TNT technicals, flagrant fouls in Game 3 loss
Rain or Shine led by as many as 29 points in a game that had its tense moments with Glenn Khobuntin getting called for a flagrant foul penalty one that got the ire of Elasto Painters head coach Yeng Guiao.
Rain or Shine also continued the trend of winning Game 3 in their three semifinal encounters in the 49th Season against TNT, which suffered its first loss of the series with RR Pogoy out due to a hamstring injury.
In what was a must-win game, Rain or Shine got off to a hot start with a 33-15 first quarter. The Elasto Painters also outscored the Tropang 5G, 33-20, in the third quarter, with a basket by Michael Malonzo to open the fourth quarter for an 86-57 lead serving as the biggest lead of the contest.
Rain or Shine blew an 18-point lead in Game Two before being dragged into overtime after Calvin Oftana made three free throws off a foul by Gian Mamuyac to bow to TNT in overtime, 113-105.
After going 20-of-34 at the foul line in Game 2, Rain or Shine shot better with a 16-of-18 clip.
“Even after the loss nung last game, I was really happy with the effort. The effort was there. We just lost the game because we didn’t make enough free throws, and we made one bad decision of fouling Calvin Oftana in taking a three-point shot,” said Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao.
“Nandoon na ‘yung innate confidence that we can hold our own and we can compete with TNT. I was telling them before the game how hard we tried to win that last game and because of free throws and one bad decision, talo kami. If we can make our free throws, play a little smarter, maybe we can win this game."
Asistio had 24 points on a 7-of-9 clip from threes. He also buried a buzzer-beating four, his second of the game, to end the third quarter with an 84-57 Rain or Shine lead.
Caelan Tiongson had 16 points and four rebounds, as Rain or Shine also drew a big game from Keith Datu who had 13 points and 10 rebounds. Santi Santillan had 13 points and eight rebounds.
Oftana tallied 16 points and eight rebounds, but his performance was a far cry from his 39-point output in Game 2. Simon Enciso and Khobuntin each had 12 points for the undermanned Tropang 5G.
The scores:
Rain or Shine 107 – Asistio 24, Tiongson 16, Datu 13, Santillan 12, Nocum 10, Caracut 8, Norwood 6, Malonzo 6, Mamuyac 5, Porter 4, Clarito 3, Ildefonso 0, Escandor 0.
TNT 86 – Oftana 16, Enciso 12, Khobuntin 12, Vosotros 9, Galinato 8, Williams 8, Heading 7, Erram 4, Aurin 4, Nieto 4, Ganuelas-Rosser 2, Ebona 0, Varilla 0.
Quarters: 33-15; 51-37; 84-57; 107-86.
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